Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The United States has allocated US$5 million to Central Asian countries to support cybersecurity and the digital sector.
Mark Cameron, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, announced the funding at the C5+1 Super Intelligence conference in Astana. The event brings together representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the United States.
The conference focuses on the development of neural networks, digital infrastructure and data centers, strengthening cybersecurity and expanding cooperation with US technology companies.
According to Cameron, the US assistance will be provided through CRDF Global. The funding is intended to improve cyber hygiene, strengthen responses to cyber incidents, protect critical infrastructure, enhance financial-sector security and develop cybersecurity policy.
Cameron said the work is part of broader US efforts to help create a safer digital future for Central Asia.
The conference also addresses support for IT startups, cooperation in artificial intelligence research and education, the development of digital services, telecommunications infrastructure and data centers.
The event in Astana follows agreements reached at the C5+1 summit attended by Central Asian leaders and US President Donald Trump in Washington in November last year.
The terminology used in the field of artificial intelligence is also receiving attention at the conference. On 22 September, Trump said in an address to the UN General Assembly that he intended to use the term “super intelligence” instead of artificial intelligence.
According to the Associated Press, on 24 September the US State Department instructed American diplomats in its Bureau of International Organization Affairs to use “super intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” in communications.
The C5+1 format provides for cooperation between the five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — and the United States and other states. The US government describes C5+1 as a platform for engagement with all five Central Asian governments.
